News — Pontoon Boat Cleaning Tips

How To Clean and Protect Your Graphics

No longer limited to pontoon, waterski and bass boats, head-turning vinyl graphics are everywhere these days, from luxury cruisers to sailboats. Whether it's an outboard engine logo, colorful image or entire hull wrap, they need specialized care. Shurhold Industries offers a few Clean-N-Simple Tips to keep graphics looking their best for years to come, with minimal effort.

The first step is to begin with a clean hull. Avoid pressure washers and instead opt for a deck brush with a combination head. These have soft bristles for general use around the vinyl and medium for scrubbing stubborn stains such as the waterline.

If the boat needs waxing, mask-off the vinyl with blue painters tape. Many products have built-in cleaners that are ideal for paint and gelcoat, but can degrade graphics. It also protects the edges of the graphic or wrap from lifting if using a polisher.

With the tape removed, spray the vinyl with a detailing product such as Shurhold's Serious Shine. It cleans accumulated dirt, polishes without abrasives and protects from the ravages of UV rays in one easy step. It also repels water to keep unsightly spots from forming. Simply wipe over the area with a microfiber towel, turn the cloth and lightly buff. The more often it's applied, the longer the graphics will last.

One-step quick detailers like Serious Shine also work on touch screens, clear coat, metal, glass and rubber. Above and below deck, it cleans a wide range of surfaces without leaving a greasy residue. Made in the USA, a 14 oz. aerosol can is $17.98.

Dedicated to educating boat owners, Shurhold provides key tips for boat value preservation at www.shurhold.com. Inventor of the One Handle Does It All system, Shurhold manufactures specialty care items and accessories to clean, polish and detail.

This article is courtesy of Pontoon and Deck boat Magazine, for this and more helpful information, go to pdbmagazine.com

What Do You Know About Using Household Cleaners On A Boat?

By: Pontoon Boat & Deck Magazine

Keeping your pontoon or deck boat in showroom-like condition usually isn’t accomplished by using your run-of-the-mill household cleaners. For example, did you know that common dish soap can eat into gelcoat, remove wax and polish, and bring on early aging and oxidization? That’s why Shurhold Industries offers a set of Clean-N-Simple Tips to ensure you don’t use a product that’s not safe for your boat.

Shurhold's marine-specific concentrated Brite Wash is safe to use anywhere on board and still cuts through dirt, grease and salt residue. There’s no need for re-waxing or cleaning away water spotting. Environmentally friendly, it's completely biodegradable and can be rinsed overboard.

Rather than using bleach, which is effective but quickly dulls gelcoat, changes vinyl color, degrades fabrics, and corrodes fittings (even stainless steel), SMC Spray is the bleach-free and environmentally friendly alternative that removes the toughest of stains and is safe to use on all surfaces.

Likewise, the ammonia in home glass cleaners can make isinglass, Plexiglas, plastic or touchscreen electronics material brittle. Shurhold's Serious Shine is a one-stop detailer that cleans, polishes and protects any surface commonly treated with glass cleaner or spray wax in one breezy step. UV inhibitors and anti-static and water-repelling properties makes it an ideal marine maintenance product.

A great companion to Serious Shine, Microfiber Towels are very absorbent and can gently lift away dirt, moisture, grease and stains without scratching delicate surfaces.

And when a strong restoration compound is needed, Shurhold's Buff Magic is designed to do the job well; formulated with jewelers rouge, it actually breaks down as it's being used, effectively becoming finer with use until it's a polishing agent. Thus, this product gently and thoroughly removes oxidation, stains, rust, and surface scratches.

And last but not least, the Pro Polish Wax is designed to seal the pores of fiberglass with a long-lasting UV- and water-resistant finish – and, as a bonus, leaving a deep shine behind.

Price ranges are as follows: a 32-ounce bottle of Shurhold's Brite Wash is $11.98; a 32-ounce spray bottle of SMC is $11.98; a 14-ounce aerosol can of Serious Shine is $17.98; a 3-pack variety of Microfiber Towels is $18.98; and a 16-ounce bottle of Pro Polish Wax is $22.98.

For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring visit Pontoon Depot's shop site.

Meticulous Maintenance | Pontoon-Depot

You love your pontoon boat. You take pride in maintaining it. You do so to protect your investment, keep your family and friends safe, and to look good out on the water!

Replacing shabby old flooring and seating is a no-brainer. These prominent pieces can be the difference between cruising in comfort and style or drifting in dishonor! Still, there’s a lot more to peak pontoon performance than these most obvious objects…

Sometimes the smallest, most inexpensive component can save the day - or ruin it. Perhaps you know this all too well from past personal experience.

As you prepare your vessel for the summer boating season, be sure to look over every square inch of it. Is anything broken, missing, unsafe, or just plain ugly?

Consider the following list of inexpensive, easy upgrades/replacement parts:

• Cleats - Look for broken or missing cleats. 
• Fence Savers - Cheap, easy way to defend against damage!
• Fender Savers - Cheap, easy, and precautionary parts.
• Battery Box - Keep it clean and contained.
• Lights - Do you need replacement lights, better lights, or more lights?
• Fuel Tanks - Do you need a new, larger, or auxiliary tank?
• Fuel Line Kit - Is it time to replace or improve?
• Fuel Filter - Often overlooked… Is yours due to be replaced?
• Primer Bulb - Is yours cracked, leaking?

Don’t put to sea until your pontoon boat is pretty, polished, purring, and properly prepared!

If you need any of the above-mentioned items, navigate over to our safe, secure online shop: https://pontoon-depot.com/collections.

Pontoon-Depot is your simple, one stop shop for all of your pontoon boating needs!

Cleaning Tips from Wise Manufacturer for the Care of Your Pontoon Boat Vinyl Seats

Pontoon-Depot.com carries a wide selection of seating to give you all the options you want to create the seating environment perfect for your life. Pontoon-Depot.com works with the Wise Company which is the largest manufacturer of pleasure boat seating and interiors in the country with manufacturing facilities in Tennessee, Illinois, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Mexico, as well as our corporate office in Memphis, TN. As the world's leading supplier of all types of seating, Wise has earned a reputation for high-quality products and service. Wise offers the following tips regarding the care and upkeep of your vinyl seats. 

The upholstery on your seat is made to withstand the effects of sun heat rain and soiling under normal conditions. While your vinyl is made to withstand the elements it is important to care for it by keeping it clean at all times. Many substances may stain if left over a period of time. Remember to remove any contaminant and clean vinyl immediately.

Keep your seats in like new condition with quality mooring and/or seat covers. They’ll keep your furniture dry, protect against UV sunlight degradation, leaf stains, pollen stains, and dramatically reduce your cleaning time. Remember that winter storage in snow and ice areas requires additional protection. Also note plastic tarps don't provide ventilation and may promote mold and mildew or pink staining of your seats. This potential damage is not covered under your warranty. An important thing to remember is that house detergents, abrasives with bleach and solvents can cause permanent damage to vinyl upholstery.

DO NOT USE the following list of cleaners on your vinyl: Formula 409, Murphy's Oil Soap, Simple Green, DC Plus, Armor All, Fantastik, Orange 88 Degreaser, Roll Off, Bleach/Baking Soda, Turtle Wax/Tar Remover, Top Kote Sealant, Son-of-a-Gun, APCO, Harbor Mate. Do not use kerosene gasoline or acetone they will remove the protective marine marine topcoat do not use any silicone-based protectants. They will extract the plasticizer leaving vinyl hard and brittle, and eventually cracking will occur. Certain household cleaners powdered abrasives steel wool and industrial cleaners can cause damage and discoloration and not recommended. Dry cleaning fluids and lacquer solvents should not be used as they will remove printed patterns and gloss. Waxes should be used with caution as they may contain dyes or solvents that can permanently damaged protective coating.

CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS:

We recommend that you use 303 Fabric/Vinyl Cleaner or a mild dish soap such as Dawn or Ivory to clean your seats. Rinse with clean warm water to remove any residue when your are finished.

All information provided by Wise Manufacturer - http://www.wiseseats.com/#!marine/c53v